Political action committee

A political action committee (PAC) is an FEC-registered entity organized to elect political candidates and lobby government. Traditionally, there were two distinct PAC types; separate segregated funds (SSF) that are administered by corporations, labor unions, membership organizations or trade associations, and nonconnected committees that are not sponsored by entities and are free to solicit contributions from the general public.

As a result of the Citizens United v. FEC decision in January 2010, "SuperPACs" have emerged for the Presidential Election 2012 to allow unlimited spending in support of or opposition to a candidate, as long as the SuperPAC operates completely separate and independent from the candidate. The influence of "SuperPACs" has eclipsed the significance of traditional PACs in elections.

Democratic PACs

This section lists the top campaign contributions by Democratic PACs and donations to PACs in 2007-2008 as provided by OpenSecrets.org

Intl Brotherhood of Electrical Workers $2,473,400

Operating Engineers Union $2,299,672

American Assn for Justice $2,106,000

Machinists/Aerospace Workers Union $1,823,800

Service Employees International Union $1,654,000

Air Line Pilots Assn $1,582,500

Plumbers/Pipefitters Union $1,572,975

United Food & Commercial Workers Union $1,567,853

Laborers Union $1,564,000

American Federation of State/County/Municipal Employees $1,558,685

International Assn of Fire Fighters $1,550,600

Republican PACs

This section lists the top campaign contributions by Republican PACs and donations to PACs in 2007-2008 as provided by OpenSecrets.org